THE GOD WHO CARES & ANSWERS PRAYERS: THE FRIENDS AT MIDNIGHT
(Message by Tanny Keng)
1. The God Who Cares And Answers Prayers
a) We look at two more parables that teach us of the goodness and compassion of God.
b) The parables of the Friends at Midnight and the Persistent Widow illustrate how good and kind God is. These parables show that we need to seek his grace (Luke 18:1-8).
c) The parables of the Friends at Midnight and the Persistent Widow are interesting because Jesus illustrates God's kindness with stories of people who are reluctant and slow to help! Jesus tells of a friend who is tucked up in bed and doesn't want to be disturbed. Jesus also tells of an unrighteous judge who finally gives a widow what she wants — only to stop her pestering him.
d) Of course Jesus does not mean that God is thus. Jesus is making a contrast. These reluctant and selfish ones are opposite in character to God. If they could be persuaded to answer a plea, how much more will our loving and willing heavenly Father answer our prayers! Therefore we should keep on asking of him, and seeking him, for he will not turn us away. That is what Jesus is illustrating.
2. The Friends At Midnight
Luke 11:5-8
“5 Then Jesus said to them: Suppose you have a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say, 'Friend, please lend me three loaves of bread 6 because a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have no food to set before him.' 7 And suppose the one inside answers, 'Don't trouble me. I've already locked the door, and my children and I are in bed. I can't get up and give you anything.' 8 I tell you, even though he won't get up and give you the bread because of friendship, yet because of your shameless persistence he will surely get up and give you as much as you need.”
a) It tells about a friend knocks on the door at midnight. The house is shut up and the family bedded down. It takes a bit of convincing to get the man out of bed to help his friend. He does not do it because the one at the door is his friend, or because the cause is genuine. He helps his friend only to be rid of him, and to get back to sleep!
Luke 11:9-13
“9 So I tell you this: Continue asking and it will be given to you; continue seeking and you will find; continue knocking and the door will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door opens. 11 Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? 12 Or if he asks for an egg, will you give him a scorpion? 13 If you who are evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?”
a) It explains the point Jesus is making, and another little parable make it very clear. God is no reluctant friend, but a loving Father. He is more than willing to give good things to those who seek him and ask of him. He will even give us his Spirit, who seals and sanctifies us for an unimaginably great and eternal inheritance (Ephesians 1:3-14, Ephesians 3:20-21).
The End ...
1. The God Who Cares And Answers Prayers a) We look at two more parables that teach us of the goodness and compassion of God.
b) The parables of the Friends at Midnight and the Persistent Widow illustrate how good and kind God is. These parables show that we need to seek his grace (Luke 18:1-8).
c) The parables of the Friends at Midnight and the Persistent Widow are interesting because Jesus illustrates God's kindness with stories of people who are reluctant and slow to help! Jesus tells of a friend who is tucked up in bed and doesn't want to be disturbed. Jesus also tells of an unrighteous judge who finally gives a widow what she wants — only to stop her pestering him.
d) Of course Jesus does not mean that God is thus. Jesus is making a contrast. These reluctant and selfish ones are opposite in character to God. If they could be persuaded to answer a plea, how much more will our loving and willing heavenly Father answer our prayers! Therefore we should keep on asking of him, and seeking him, for he will not turn us away. That is what Jesus is illustrating.
2. The Friends At Midnight
Luke 11:5-8
“5 Then Jesus said to them: Suppose you have a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say, 'Friend, please lend me three loaves of bread 6 because a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have no food to set before him.' 7 And suppose the one inside answers, 'Don't trouble me. I've already locked the door, and my children and I are in bed. I can't get up and give you anything.' 8 I tell you, even though he won't get up and give you the bread because of friendship, yet because of your shameless persistence he will surely get up and give you as much as you need.”
a) It tells about a friend knocks on the door at midnight. The house is shut up and the family bedded down. It takes a bit of convincing to get the man out of bed to help his friend. He does not do it because the one at the door is his friend, or because the cause is genuine. He helps his friend only to be rid of him, and to get back to sleep!
Luke 11:9-13
“9 So I tell you this: Continue asking and it will be given to you; continue seeking and you will find; continue knocking and the door will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door opens. 11 Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? 12 Or if he asks for an egg, will you give him a scorpion? 13 If you who are evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?”
a) It explains the point Jesus is making, and another little parable make it very clear. God is no reluctant friend, but a loving Father. He is more than willing to give good things to those who seek him and ask of him. He will even give us his Spirit, who seals and sanctifies us for an unimaginably great and eternal inheritance (Ephesians 1:3-14, Ephesians 3:20-21).
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